Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

HANGZHOU, China I July 18, 2023 I Hangzhou Qihan Biotech Co., Ltd. ("Qihan" or "Qihan Biotech" or "the Company"), an industry leader in applying multiplexable genome editing technology to cell therapies and organ transplantation, announced today that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved its clinical trial application for the product QN-019a. It is the first IND approved in China for a gene-edited iPSC-derived cell therapy product. Qihan Biotech utilizes multiplexable genome editing technology to modify human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and differentiate them into natural killer (NK) cell therapy product QN-019a, targeting CD19-positive B-cell lymphoma. The clinical indication for QN-019a is CD19-positive relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the official website of the Center for Drug Evaluation, NMPA, the clinical trial application for QN-019a cell injection has received approval as of July 18, 2023. "The approval of our application for the clinical trial is a result of our team's collaborative efforts and also signifies Qihan entering a new phase in its evolution. The IND approval is the first step in a long drug development journey, and we will adhere to scientific rigor and fully use our genome editing technology and in-depth biological knowledge to continue our research," said Dr. Luhan Yang, the founder and CEO of Qihan Biotech. "We look forward to developing Off-the-Shelf cell therapy products with long-term efficacy for patients and realizing the vision of Qihan.” About Qihan Biotech Qihan Biotech is a biotechnology company applying genome editing technology to develop novel cell therapies and organs for transplantation. The company's mission is to use high-throughput, multiplexable genome editing combined with expertise in transplantation immunology to create immunologically privileged allogeneic cells and xenogeneic organs for use as therapies to treat cancer, organ failure, and other complex medical conditions. With a vision to create a world in which cell and organ therapies are universally available to patients, Qihan Biotech has raised two rounds of financing and has multiple products at different stages of development, including QN-019a. Qihan’s deep scientific experience and technology advancements have enabled the company to create cutting-edge cell therapy products. Qihan Biotech is headquartered in Hangzhou, China. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.qihanbio.com . SOURCE: Qihan Biotech

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hangzhou Qihan Biotech Co., Ltd. ("Qihan" or "Qihan Biotech" or "the Company"), an industry leader in applying multiplexable genome editing technology to cell therapies and organ transplantation, announced today that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved its clinical trial application for the product QN-019a. It is the first IND approved in China for a gene-edited iPSC-derived cell therapy product. Qihan Biotech utilizes multiplexable genome editing technology to modify human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and differentiate them into natural killer (NK) cell therapy product QN-019a, targeting CD19-positive B-cell lymphoma. The clinical indication for QN-019a is CD19-positive relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the official website of the Center for Drug Evaluation, NMPA, the clinical trial application for QN-019a cell injection has received approval as of July 18, 2023. "The approval of our application for the clinical trial is a result of our team's collaborative efforts and also signifies Qihan entering a new phase in its evolution. The IND approval is the first step in a long drug development journey, and we will adhere to scientific rigor and fully use our genome editing technology and in-depth biological knowledge to continue our research," said Dr. Luhan Yang, the founder and CEO of Qihan Biotech. "We look forward to developing Off-the-Shelf cell therapy products with long-term efficacy for patients and realizing the vision of Qihan.” About Qihan Biotech Qihan Biotech is a biotechnology company applying genome editing technology to develop novel cell therapies and organs for transplantation. The company's mission is to use high-throughput, multiplexable genome editing combined with expertise in transplantation immunology to create immunologically privileged allogeneic cells and xenogeneic organs for use as therapies to treat cancer, organ failure, and other complex medical conditions. With a vision to create a world in which cell and organ therapies are universally available to patients, Qihan Biotech has raised two rounds of financing and has multiple products at different stages of development, including QN-019a. Qihan’s deep scientific experience and technology advancements have enabled the company to create cutting-edge cell therapy products. Qihan Biotech is headquartered in Hangzhou, China. For more information, please visit the company's website at . Forward-looking Statements This release contains statements including, but not limited to, Qihan’s research development and/or relevant programs, its past, ongoing, and planned research studies, and the potential of Qihan’s research candidate. These and any other statements in this release are based on Qihan management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that Qihan’s research program may not warrant further development, the risk that results observed in prior studies of Qihan’s research candidates will not be observed in ongoing or future studies involving these candidates, the risk of a delay or difficulties in the developing or transforming of Qihan’s research candidates, the risk that Qihan may cease or delay the research development of any of its candidates for a variety of reasons. Qihan is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Information concerning therapies and related products contained herein is not intended as medical advice.

Zilovertamab Phase 3 Study ZILO-301 and Phase 1/2 Study CIRM-0001 to be closed based on dynamically changing therapeutic landscapeCash runway extended to 2025, enabling initial clinical data readouts for both ONCT-808, ROR1-tageting CAR T for patients with aggressive lymphomas, and ONCT-534, novel AR inhibitor for patients with resistant mCRPCManagement to host webcast today at 5:00 pm ET SAN DIEGO, April 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel oncology therapies, today announced a strategic reprioritization based on the rapidly changing commercial landscape for Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTK inhibitors). The Phase 3 study and the Phase 1/2 study of zilovertamab in combination with ibrutinib will be closed, and other project and indirect expenses will be reduced, resulting in extending the expected cash runway into 2025. The projected cash runway will support the clinical advancement of our two pipeline assets ONCT-808 and ONCT-534. “It is an extremely difficult decision to halt the clinical development of zilovertamab in combination with ibrutinib for patients with hematologic malignancies,” said James Breitmeyer, M.D., Ph.D., Oncternal’s President and CEO. “The dramatic adoption of recently approved Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors made the continued development of zilovertamab with ibrutinib an unviable commercial opportunity. The decision was not based on any concerns about the safety or efficacy of zilovertamab. Going forward we will focus on reaching clinical proof of concept and data catalysts from the clinical trials of ONCT-808 in patients with resistant aggressive lymphoma, and ONCT-534 in patients with prostate cancer resistant to standard of care androgen receptor inhibitors.” ONCT-808: Our ROR1 targeting autologous CAR T cell therapy is being tested in a recently initiated Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma, including those who have failed previous CD19 CAR T therapy. Preclinical models show robust and specific activity against ROR1 expressing cells from multiple tumor types. We have developed a manufacturing process that is reproducible, scalable, and only 8 days in duration. We expect to present initial clinical data in late 2023, with additional clinical data readouts in 2024. ONCT-534: Our novel dual-action androgen receptor inhibitor (DAARI) has concluded IND-enabling studies and we expect to submit an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) in mid-2023. Preclinical models suggest activity directed to both the N-terminal and ligand binding domain (LBD) of the androgen receptor (AR), and activity against the most common forms of resistance to current standard of care AR inhibitors. A Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who are resistant to AR inhibitor treatment is expected to open shortly thereafter. We expect to present initial clinical data in mid-2024. Zilovertamab: This reprioritization includes closing two studies of zilovertamab in combination with ibrutinib, ongoing Phase 1/2 Study CIRM-0001 and Phase 3 Study ZILO-301, a global registrational study in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. We plan to continue exploring the potential value of zilovertamab in areas of high unmet medical need. The robust response rates and prolonged PFS seen for MCL and CLL patients expressing TP53 aberrations will be further investigated preclinically and extended into other tumor types, such as lung cancer and prostate cancer. We expect partnerships and collaborations to be essential for executing future late-stage clinical trials of zilovertamab. In addition, management will continue to drive operational efficiencies and prudent cost reduction and cost containment measures. We estimate that our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $54.3 million, and we had 58.7 million shares of common stock outstanding, as of March 31, 2023, and we expect our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments to support our planned operations into 2025. About Oncternal TherapeuticsOncternal Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel oncology therapies for the treatment of patients with cancers that have critical unmet medical need. Oncternal pursues drug development targeting promising, yet untapped biological pathways implicated in cancer generation or progression, focusing on hematological malignancies and prostate cancer. ONCT-808 is an investigational autologous chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy that targets ROR1 using the binding domain from zilovertamab. ONCT-808 has demonstrated activity in preclinical models against multiple hematological malignancies and solid tumors and has been shown to be specific for cancer cells expressing ROR1. Oncternal has developed a robust and reproducible manufacturing process that has the potential to reduce the time patients must wait for their individual CAR T product to be produced, compared with approved CAR T products. Oncternal has initiated Study ONCT-808-101 (NCT05588440) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma, including patients who have failed previous CD19 CAR T treatment. ONCT-534 is a dual-action androgen receptor inhibitor (DAARI) with preclinical activity in prostate cancer models against both unmutated androgen receptor (AR), and against multiple forms of AR mutation. It is a potential treatment for patients with mCRPC and unmet medical need because of resistance to androgen receptor inhibitors, including those with AR amplification, mutations in the AR ligand binding domain (LBD), or splice variants with loss of the AR LBD. Final IND-enabling studies for ONCT-534 have been completed. Zilovertamab is an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit the function of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-Like Orphan Receptor 1 (ROR1). Zilovertamab has been evaluated in Phase 1/2 Study CIRM-0001 (NCT03088878) in combination with ibrutinib for the treatment of patients with MCL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Zilovertamab is also being evaluated in two investigator-initiated studies: a Phase 2 clinical trial of zilovertamab in combination with venetoclax, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, in patients with R/R CLL (NCT04501939), and a Phase 1b study of zilovertamab in combination with docetaxel in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (NCT05156905). More information on our company and programs is available at https://oncternal.com/. Forward-Looking Information Oncternal cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negatives of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements are based on Oncternal’s current beliefs and expectations. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Oncternal’s expected cash runway; Oncternal’s estimated cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and capitalization as of March 31, 2023; the timing of reaching milestones, including the enrollment on clinical studies; the timing for regulatory filings and communications; and future development opportunities for zilovertamab. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties inherent in Oncternal’s business, including risks associated with the clinical development and process for obtaining regulatory approval of Oncternal’s product candidates, such as potential delays in the commencement, enrollment and completion of clinical trials; the risk that interim results of a clinical trial do not predict final results and that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues, following more comprehensive reviews of the data, as follow-up on the outcome of any particular patient continues, and as more patient data become available; potential changes in estimated cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and capitalization based on the completion of financial closing procedures and release of complete results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023; and other risks described in Oncternal’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are current only as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable law, Oncternal undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Contact Information: InvestorsRichard Vincent 858-434-1113rvincent@oncternal.com MediaCorey Davis, Ph.D.LifeSci Advisors212-915-2577cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com